Former state delegate enters race for Virginia Beach mayor

VIRGINIA BEACH — Another candidate has entered the race for Virginia Beach mayor in hopes of unseating incumbent Bobby Dyer. The latest: former state Del. Cheryl Turpin.

Turpin, a Democrat who served in the House of Delegates for one term, represented the former 85th district from 2018 to 2020. In a 2019 bid for a state senate seat, she lost by a slim margin to to Republican Jen Kiggans, who three years later won a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.

A high school science teacher and Kempsville resident, Turpin said she wants to strengthen the city’s public education system and grow Virginia Beach’s population. She also supports collective bargaining for city employees, which recently has been a divisive issue in City Hall.

“I would like to have teachers and city employees be able to have a conversation with out fear of losing their jobs,” Turpin, 60, said.

Dyer, 73, became mayor after a special election in 2018 and was reelected in 2020. A member of City Council since 2004, he is running for reelection.

The other mayoral candidates are City Council members Sabrina Wooten (District 7) and Chris Taylor, and former Councilman John Moss.

The election is Nov. 5.

Stacy Parker, 757-222-5125, stacy.parker@pilotonline.com